TGR X class
Encyclopedia
The Tasmanian Government Railways X Class locomotive was the first class of diesel-electric locomotive
s to enter main line
service on a Government-owned railway
in Australia
, in Tasmania
. The first 20 units of this class were manufactured
by the Vulcan Foundry
under contract for English Electric
, but the last twelve were manufactured at EE's Dick Kerr
, works, making a total of 32 units, manufactured between 1950 and 1953. The first unit entered service on the Tasmanian Government Railways
(TGR) on the 30th of September, 1950. The TGR was the only system to use this class, though the New Zealand Railways
DE class
were very similar, and entered service around the same time.
capacity, that is, up to three of these engines could be coupled together, and be driven by only one crew
in the leading locomotive. This feature was not confined to this class alone - the X Class could be operated in multiple with the later Y Class
as well. By the time the X class was removed from service, train
s of three or four engines were common. However, only three units of the X or Y Classes could be used together - if more than three were needed, an extra crew needed to drive the fourth engine.
No members of the class were named, though X16 carried the plate 'Festival of Britain' on the cab sides. This is because X16 was exhibited at the Festival of Britain
in 1952 as part of the locomotive displays. Though the engine had not yet been delivered, and very few Tasmanians knew the reason for these explanatory plates, they were retained on the loco throughout its working life.
Primarily designed for branch line and shunting services, the X class proved very successful on main line heavy goods duties as well. Their light axle loading made it possible for them to work on a wide variety of lines, and for many years after their introduction the X Class were the dominant freight-hauler on Tasmanian railways. They were also used on passenger trains as well. For some years after 1955 the Tasman Limited, Tasmania's prestige passenger train, was hauled exclusively by X class locomotives. Indeed X20, X16, X29 and X17 had the special privilege of hauling the last Tasman Limited from Hobart
to Wynyard
, on the 28th of July, 1978. This was the very last regular passenger service to operate in Tasmania, and so the X Class proved to be the last regular passenger-haulers in Government service on Tasmanian railways.
The X-class were 'hood' locomotives, by which is meant the engine and generator were at one end of the locomotive under a long hood or bonnet, with the drivers cabin at the other end. The hood had shutters along the sides which allowed access for repair and maintenance.
This arrangement made for excellent forward visibility when running cab-end first, but in reverse, the long hood severely restricted vision. For this reason, the engines were usually driven with the cab-end leading. The cab was broad and flat, and made the class very odd-looking, with some commenting that they looked more like bricks than locomotives.
s and gearboxes, making them especially suitable for low-speed heavy operations, usually in multiple with the 'Y' class engines.
Apart from the modification to XA class, the fitting of new auto couplers along with retractable buffers to most units, and the addition of side ladders and roof handrails to all units, starting from 1956, most X class units were in substantially similar condition when withdrawn as when they were built, apart from changes in livery
(see below).
Some units had sliding windows installed as a result of complaints from the crews that the engines were uncomfortable to operate in summer. In addition, some units were constructed with eight sandbox
es, but others had only four. The reason for this variation is not known.
X16 seemed to lack roof handrails over the cab area fairly late, although the reason is not clear. One of the XAs had a metal bar welded just underneath the cab windows across the full width of the cab. Again the reason for this modification is not clear.
, some units of the class had broad cream
bands or an orange
chevron painted on the front and back. Later on all units were painted red
and cream to conform with the standard TGR livery
, which they carried throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s the red and cream TGR livery was replaced with the newer red, black
and yellow
Tiger Stripes colour scheme
, also for the TGR. X18 was the first X in the tiger stripe scheme, being painted at Launceston while being repaired after the Emu River derailment in 1970.
When operational control of Tasmanian rail lines was passed to Australian National Railways (ANR) in March 1978, most units retained their old yellow livery, but the letters 'TGR', previously painted on the locos sides in the form of a red stylised logo, were replaced with 'ANR' in slanted black lettering.
took delivery of 20 second-hand 830 class
diesel-electric engines transferred from South Australia
. This gradually removed any need to maintain the aged X and Xa class engines, which were then withdrawn from service. The first class member to be withdrawn was X2 which was removed from service in December 1980, and by 1988, all remaining members of the X and Xa classes had been withdrawn.
It was not considered cost-efficient to convert any of the Xs or XAs to air-brake and they retained their vacuum brakes to the end.
Units were withdrawn as they came up for major overhauls, with early candidates for withdrawal often being units which had not been fitted with auto couplers and retractable buffers, X2 being an example.
Strangely, right at the end of their working lives, four members of the class (X4, X20, X21 and X26) received cosmetic overhauls in the form of the new green and yellow AN livery, though they did not remain in service for very long afterwards. X4 still carries this paint scheme today, in preservation.
Some units seemed to be in fairly good condition even at the end of their working lives, with X10 and X18 being regularly rostered on the Boyer paper train, which turned in some 50mph plus performances running through Hobart's northern suburbs, even in 1988. A fitting swansong.
Of the 32 units originally constructed, seven have been preserved operational
, but the others have been scrap
ped. The surviving operable units are often used to haul enthusiasts' excursions. The survivors are X1, the class leader, at the Tasmanian Transport Museum
in Hobart, X3 and X20 at the Bellarine Peninsula Railway
, Victoria
, X4 at the Don River Railway
, and X10, X18 and X30 at the Derwent Valley Railway
.
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s to enter main line
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
service on a Government-owned railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The first 20 units of this class were manufactured
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
by the Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
under contract for English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
, but the last twelve were manufactured at EE's Dick Kerr
Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr and Company was a locomotive and tramcar manufacturer based in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Preston, England.-Early history:Having previously been known as W.B.Dick and Company the company had built all kinds of tramway equipment and rolling stock. From 1883 the company joined with John Kerr...
, works, making a total of 32 units, manufactured between 1950 and 1953. The first unit entered service on the Tasmanian Government Railways
Tasmanian Government Railways
The Tasmanian Government Railways was the former Government of Tasmania managed operator of mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia...
(TGR) on the 30th of September, 1950. The TGR was the only system to use this class, though the New Zealand Railways
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
DE class
NZR DE class
The NZR DE class is a New Zealand class of shunting diesel-electric locomotives. The New Zealand Railways intended to replace steam locomotives for shunting duties with this class...
were very similar, and entered service around the same time.
History
The X Class were the first locomotives in Australia to have a multi-unitMultiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
capacity, that is, up to three of these engines could be coupled together, and be driven by only one crew
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
in the leading locomotive. This feature was not confined to this class alone - the X Class could be operated in multiple with the later Y Class
TGR Y class
The Tasmanian Government Railways built and ran 8 "Y" class diesel electric locomotives.-History:Following the success of the 1952-vintage TGR X class main-line diesel-electric locomotives, the TGR were keen to add additional diesel locomotives to their fleet.A repeat order of 'X' class engines...
as well. By the time the X class was removed from service, train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s of three or four engines were common. However, only three units of the X or Y Classes could be used together - if more than three were needed, an extra crew needed to drive the fourth engine.
No members of the class were named, though X16 carried the plate 'Festival of Britain' on the cab sides. This is because X16 was exhibited at the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
in 1952 as part of the locomotive displays. Though the engine had not yet been delivered, and very few Tasmanians knew the reason for these explanatory plates, they were retained on the loco throughout its working life.
Primarily designed for branch line and shunting services, the X class proved very successful on main line heavy goods duties as well. Their light axle loading made it possible for them to work on a wide variety of lines, and for many years after their introduction the X Class were the dominant freight-hauler on Tasmanian railways. They were also used on passenger trains as well. For some years after 1955 the Tasman Limited, Tasmania's prestige passenger train, was hauled exclusively by X class locomotives. Indeed X20, X16, X29 and X17 had the special privilege of hauling the last Tasman Limited from Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
to Wynyard
Wynyard, Tasmania
Wynyard is a rural town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies west of Burnie on the Bass Highway at the mouth of the Inglis River....
, on the 28th of July, 1978. This was the very last regular passenger service to operate in Tasmania, and so the X Class proved to be the last regular passenger-haulers in Government service on Tasmanian railways.
The X-class were 'hood' locomotives, by which is meant the engine and generator were at one end of the locomotive under a long hood or bonnet, with the drivers cabin at the other end. The hood had shutters along the sides which allowed access for repair and maintenance.
This arrangement made for excellent forward visibility when running cab-end first, but in reverse, the long hood severely restricted vision. For this reason, the engines were usually driven with the cab-end leading. The cab was broad and flat, and made the class very odd-looking, with some commenting that they looked more like bricks than locomotives.
Mechanical issues
While the general design was very successful, some problems surfaced in the early 1960s with overheating while working with the newer Y Class, which were more powerful but slower. When running with the Y Class at low speed, hauling a heavy load, the X Class engines would overheat as they were not designed for prolonged running at low revs under load. As a result, between 1961 and 1970, five units of this class (X9, X12, X14, X22 and X28) were modified to the 'XA Class'; renumbered XA1 to XA5 in order. This modification entailed special alterations to the traction motorTraction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s and gearboxes, making them especially suitable for low-speed heavy operations, usually in multiple with the 'Y' class engines.
Apart from the modification to XA class, the fitting of new auto couplers along with retractable buffers to most units, and the addition of side ladders and roof handrails to all units, starting from 1956, most X class units were in substantially similar condition when withdrawn as when they were built, apart from changes in livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
(see below).
Some units had sliding windows installed as a result of complaints from the crews that the engines were uncomfortable to operate in summer. In addition, some units were constructed with eight sandbox
Sandbox
Sandbox may refer to:* Litter box, an indoor box for cats to relieve themselves* Sandpit or sandbox, a wide, shallow playground construction to hold sand often made of wood or plastic...
es, but others had only four. The reason for this variation is not known.
X16 seemed to lack roof handrails over the cab area fairly late, although the reason is not clear. One of the XAs had a metal bar welded just underneath the cab windows across the full width of the cab. Again the reason for this modification is not clear.
Livery
When built all units of this class were painted dark green, but with this colour they tended to blend into the countryside, resulting in several accidents at level crossings. To enhance visibilityVisibility
In meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing...
, some units of the class had broad cream
Cream (colour)
Cream is the colour of the cream produced by cattle grazing on natural pasture with plants rich in yellow carotenoid pigments, some of which are incorporated into the cream, to give a yellow tone to white. Cream is the pastel colour of yellow, much like as pink is to red. Cream is used as a skin...
bands or an orange
Orange (colour)
The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The...
chevron painted on the front and back. Later on all units were painted red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
and cream to conform with the standard TGR livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
, which they carried throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s the red and cream TGR livery was replaced with the newer red, black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
and yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
Tiger Stripes colour scheme
Tiger Stripes colour scheme
The Tiger Stripes colour scheme is a pattern of painting applied to locomotives to improve visibility. It entails painting the whole locomotive bright yellow, and adding diagonal black stripes to the front and back. It is called 'Tiger Stripes' because of its resemblance to the stripes of a tiger....
, also for the TGR. X18 was the first X in the tiger stripe scheme, being painted at Launceston while being repaired after the Emu River derailment in 1970.
When operational control of Tasmanian rail lines was passed to Australian National Railways (ANR) in March 1978, most units retained their old yellow livery, but the letters 'TGR', previously painted on the locos sides in the form of a red stylised logo, were replaced with 'ANR' in slanted black lettering.
Retirement and preservation
Since their construction the X and Xa classes had been dominant on freight haulage, often working in multiple with members of the Y Class. However, from 1980 ANR TasRailTasRail
Tasrail was the brand name of the Australian National Railways Commission's operations on the mainline railways in Tasmania, formed when Australian National absorbed the former Tasmanian Government Railways in 1978...
took delivery of 20 second-hand 830 class
South Australian Railways 830 class
The 830 class of diesel locomotives were a class of branchline locomotive built by A. E. Goodwin. They had a Co-Co wheelbase and were operated by the South Australian Railways. Most were passed onto Australian National but two were retained by South Australia for the STA but were later sold to...
diesel-electric engines transferred from South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. This gradually removed any need to maintain the aged X and Xa class engines, which were then withdrawn from service. The first class member to be withdrawn was X2 which was removed from service in December 1980, and by 1988, all remaining members of the X and Xa classes had been withdrawn.
It was not considered cost-efficient to convert any of the Xs or XAs to air-brake and they retained their vacuum brakes to the end.
Units were withdrawn as they came up for major overhauls, with early candidates for withdrawal often being units which had not been fitted with auto couplers and retractable buffers, X2 being an example.
Strangely, right at the end of their working lives, four members of the class (X4, X20, X21 and X26) received cosmetic overhauls in the form of the new green and yellow AN livery, though they did not remain in service for very long afterwards. X4 still carries this paint scheme today, in preservation.
Some units seemed to be in fairly good condition even at the end of their working lives, with X10 and X18 being regularly rostered on the Boyer paper train, which turned in some 50mph plus performances running through Hobart's northern suburbs, even in 1988. A fitting swansong.
Of the 32 units originally constructed, seven have been preserved operational
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
, but the others have been scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
ped. The surviving operable units are often used to haul enthusiasts' excursions. The survivors are X1, the class leader, at the Tasmanian Transport Museum
Tasmanian Transport Museum
The Tasmanian Transport Museum is located in Glenorchy, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. The museum is situated in between the Glenorchy pool and Northgate Shopping Centre on the site of the old Glenorchy Train Station....
in Hobart, X3 and X20 at the Bellarine Peninsula Railway
Bellarine Peninsula Railway
The Bellarine Railway is a volunteer-operated steam-driven tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a 16 km section of a formerly disused branch line on the Bellarine Peninsula between the coastal town of Queenscliff and Drysdale, near Geelong.- History as a working...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, X4 at the Don River Railway
Don River Railway
The Don River Railway is a vintage railway in Don, a suburb of Devonport, Tasmania. It runs a short train ride from Don to Coles beach, about ten minutes away. Work is in progress to restore an M class steam locomotive. A few running diesel locomotives and a railcar are in use until the steamer is...
, and X10, X18 and X30 at the Derwent Valley Railway
Derwent Valley Railway (Tasmania)
The Derwent Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Tasmania, Australia. It operates from New Norfolk. It is 3' 6" narrow gauge.-History:Tasmanian Government Railways opened the Derwent Valley Line in 1886. Initially, it ran from the junction at Bridgewater along the main north-south Hobart to...
.